New York Asbestos Exposure

From 1999 to 2017, New York had approximately 4.1 deaths per 100,000 people, slightly below the national average of 4.9 deaths.

The number of workplace asbestos exposure-related deaths provides context for New York’s ongoing asbestos problems relative to other states. Researchers attributed 1,500 to 2,000 New York deaths to asbestos-related diseases developed from workplace exposure in 2019.

California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas were the only states that reported more than 2,000 deaths during the same time period.

The data for age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) shows New York at the lower end of the scale, with three to six deaths per 100,000. Seven states had higher ASMRs.

New York has a long history of being a global industrial hub. Many of its industrial sites also predate asbestos bans. Asbestos is found in factories and facilities spanning many industries. It’s used in cement, gaskets, bricks and other materials that need protection from heat. This practice created conditions that could lead to occupational asbestos exposure for workers.

Learn about products that contain asbestos.

Industrial and maritime exposure

Chemical plants such as the OxyChem plant in Niagara Falls allegedly exposed workers to asbestos. One former employee described asbestos fibers coating light fixtures and beams. Operational and decommissioned power plants in New York may contain asbestos. Finally, decommissioned and active steelworks are common throughout New York and have also been found to contain friable asbestos, such as the Bethlehem Steel building.

Asbestos was also commonly used in shipbuilding before the material was phased out. Some of these shipyards still operate, which could expose workers to asbestos.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry notes dozens of occupations could expose workers, including those still prevalent in New York. They include:

• Auto repair
• Construction
• Demolition
• Mining
• Oil refining
• Shipbuilding
• Steel manufacturing
• Tile installation

Current federal laws ban all new uses of asbestos; however, regulatory, legal and economic challenges have prevented a full asbestos ban. Asbestos is no longer mined in the U.S., and no new consumer asbestos products are permitted to be manufactured domestically. Federal regulations still allow asbestos in some existing domestic products and some imported products.

The New York State Department of Health regulates the training required for asbestos abatement professionals. The state sets certification requirements, issuing nine different certifications for workers who handle asbestos containing materials (ACMs).

People throughout the U.S. have filed lawsuits, alleging that they were harmed by exposure to asbestos. The lawsuits claim that companies and individuals withheld knowledge of the harms asbestos can cause, leading to illnesses.

Learn more about mesothelioma lawsuits.

It’s not possible to promise a certain amount for a settlement or a jury verdict. Plaintiffs often sue for damages such as:

• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Healthcare costs
• Pain and suffering

Loved ones and family members who develop illnesses from secondary asbestos exposure may also be eligible to file a claim.

Some companies that used to sell, market or manufacture asbestos-containing materials have gone bankrupt through lawsuits. Companies such as Johns-Manville formed trusts to handle asbestos payouts.

Learn more about asbestos bankruptcy claims.

For decades, Motley Rice attorneys have represented clients who developed asbestos-related illnesses. Our team helped expose corporate knowledge of the dangers of asbestos exposure. We continue to hold entities and people responsible through lawsuits on behalf of those harmed.

Learn more about asbestos litigation.